White wine grape variety grown in Apulia
Bombino Bianco b. is a grape variety of white fruit wine of ancient cultivation in Apulia, mainly present in the center-north of Apulia.
Bombino Bianco b. is a wine grape variety cultivated for a long time in Apulia. About its name, in the bibliography it is reported that it derives from the shape of the cluster that resembles a child with outstretched arms. From this, in fact, the name of Bammino, dialectal meaning of Italian Bambino, then changed to Bombino.
More likely, acclaimed the historical influence of the local Spanish domination, Bombino derives from Bonvino, since the letter “v” in Spanish is pronounced as in Italian the letter “b”; therefore in Spanish the word “Bonvino” is pronounced as in Italian “Bombino”. The term Bombino means “good wine”.
In the last decade, the discovery of new relatives, identified with research carried out on DNA, have made known (Bergamini et al., 2016) that the parents Bombino Bianco (mother) and ancient pink grape/Quagliano, have obtained the vines grape of Troia, Bombino Nero, Impigno.
Bammino, Bonvino, Binvino bianco, Butta Pezzente, Butta Palmento, Campanile, Campolese scinciaro, Castellà, Cola tamburo, Marese, Ottenese, Pagadebiti, Schiacciadebiti, Straccia cambiale, Trebbiano bianco di Chieti, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Trebbiano di Avezzano, Trebbiano di Teramo, Trebbiano d’oro, Uva da un osso, Uva Castellana, Uva romana
Shoot tip: fan-shaped, fluffy, whitish green with yellow shades and frequently carmine margins.
Leaf: medium, pentagonal, pentalobate or trilobate. Open-lyre petiole sinus, often with 1-2 teeth along the margin of the petiole sinus; V or U-shaped, sometimes closed upper lateral sinuses. Vshaped lower lateral sinuses, if present.
Bunch: medium, cylindrical-conical, often winged and pyramid-shaped, fairly loose or not very dense.
Berry: low weight, sub-spheroidal or slightly oblong, pruinose, medium thick, compact skin, yellowish colour with spots and brown dots on the side exposed to the sun. Plain and not very aromatic taste.
Time of bud burst: late
Flowering time: late
Veraison: intermediate-late
Ripening: intermediate-late
Vigour: medium
Average bunch weight: 210 g (min 110 g – max 320 g)
Average berry weight: 1.5 g (min 1.2 g – max 2.3 g)
Number of seeds per berry: 2 3
Average rachis weight: 17 g
Fertility of buds: 1 – 2
Potential fertility: 1.3
Actual fertility: 1.0
Offers an abundant, fairly consistent yield when pruned short; if pruned long, instead, there may be an alternating production. The ripening of the grapes is favoured by light, siliceous-calcareous soils rich in skeleton, with a good exposure.
Alcoholic content: 11.0 – 12.5 % by vol.
pH: 3.15 – 3.40
Total acidity: 5.5 – 7.0 g/l
Bombino Bianco b. is less frequently vinified as a single variety, but is used in blends for the production of renowned white wine. In Apulia, it is used for the production of QWpsr wine: San Severo, Cacc’è Mmitte di Lucera, Leverano, Castel del Monte, Locorotondo, Martina or Martina Franca and Gravina. The wine has a greenish yellow to golden straw colour, a neutral, velvety, well balanced, dry taste. It is a fine wine for meals, which matches well with fish.
The Bombino Bianco b. vine is present in Apulia in considerable numbers above all in the provinces of Bari and Foggia.
It is registered among the varieties suited to being grown in all the Apulian provinces.
Antonacci Donato
antonacci.dona@gmail.com
The data sheet of the Bombino Bianco b., revised and updated, is extracted from: Antonacci Donato (2006). Viti di Puglia, Adda publisher. Its use is granted by the author citing the source.